Most heated debate in Atlanta Falcons history put to rest in week one

Over five years ago the worst day in the history of the Atlanta Falcons franchise happened when they blew their best chance at winning their first Super Bowl. Ever since then there has been a pretty heated debate amongst fans of the Dirty Birds about Matt Ryan.

That debate has been about whether or not Matt Ryan is a “choker.” A lot of fans say that Matt Ryan is to blame for the collapse, while others say that it was the coaches or a combination of everything.

Big argument surrounding Atlanta Falcons’ former QB Matt Ryan answered in week one

The Atlanta Falcons played their first game without Matt Ryan on Sunday and it was also Matt Ryan’s first game on a team that isn’t based in Atlanta.

Matt Ryan is the most loved and hated player in franchise history — or at least second to Michael Vick — because some see him as a player who brought the best years to a suffering team while others see him as a player who messed up in the franchise’s biggest game ever.

It has sparked a debate that has been constantly argued for over five years. Some people see him as someone who got them to that point only to be let down by everyone around him and on the flip side, people blame him for the fourth-quarter collapse. But we finally have our answer as to who is correct.

The Atlanta Falcons played their first game of 2022 against the New Orleans Saints and dominated them for three-plus quarters holding a 16-point lead, only to give that lead up in the waning moments. Obviously, they ended up losing in heartbreaking fashion, nothing new for Falcons fans.

Also read: How the Atlanta Falcons contributed to Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks divorce.

At the same time that was happening, the exact opposite was happening to Matt Ryan in his first game with Indianapolis.

The Colts traveled to Houston to take on the Texans. They were smacked in the mouth for three quarters as they trailed 20-3 in the fourth quarter, and as it would happen, Matt Ryan brought the team back to tie it at 20-20 which sent the game to overtime.

The game ultimately ended in a tie but that shouldn’t be blamed on Matt Ryan as he got the Colts into field goal range only for Rodrigo Blankenship to miss the game-winning 42-yard field goal — which also cost Rodrigo his job.

Matt Ryan didn’t have the greatest game of his career by any means but the fact he put the Colts in a situation to win it was incredible.

He may have thrown an interception but it was a result of a great play by the defender. His receivers also dropped a couple of touchdowns which never helps and is much of the reason that they were down by 17 in the fourth quarter.

All of this shows you what happens when you put Ryan on a team that can run the ball and that plays defense. Even the best players in the league need help around them, which is simply what Ryan didn’t have in Atlanta over the past number of years.

It is only fitting that the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan debate is answered in week one

How else would it have happened, the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan play their first game separately and the franchise collapses while the player does the exact opposite, proving that he was never the problem.

For all those haters out there who were complaining for five years about Matt Ryan and how he sinks in big moments, this happened just for you. The universe was speaking to you, showing you who was right this whole time — the team and coaches were the ones responsible, not Matt Ryan by himself.

Heck, if the Atlanta Falcons did not have Matt Ryan in the 2016 season, they never would have made the Super Bowl, much less have a 28-3 lead in the fourth quarter. It is the truth that many people do not want to hear. How else do you explain what has happened? In the very first game that these two parties are detached, the player who has received criticism for years does exactly what he was being told he couldn’t do while the team he left does the same old thing?

This isn’t to say that the Falcons should have kept Ryan because it was probably smart of them to send him to a place where he can reach his goal. He also did not fit what Arthur Smith wanted in a quarterback, which is nothing against him, it is just differences in styles.

This whole situation in week one just further proves that Matt Ryan is the greatest player in Atlanta Falcons’ history. He did things that no other quarterbacks were able to do for this franchise. While they didn’t reach the very top of the mountain, they still proved the country wrong as they were not given much of a chance prior to the 2016 season.

That also shows that you never know what might happen. The Falcons opened the 2016 season with a disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for all we know the Falcons just got the kick in the butt they needed to go on a run this season.

Needless to say, you never know how a season might go, there is a world of opportunity out there for both the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan.